The adoption of eco-friendly measures lately, by sport events, leagues, teams, stadiums, venues, stakeholders and fans termed “Sustainability in Sport”- with the grand aim of protecting the environment and also leaving positive legacies for posterity has become the norm in the practice of sport globally.
In an interview with SportsPro on how to make “sport a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industry” at the 2nd“Sustainable Innovation in Sport (SIIS) 2017” forum last week in Munich- the Global Technology& Sustainability Director for Dow Olympic and Sports Solutions, Dr. Nicoletta Piccolrovazzi attached much credence to the importance of Sustainability in Sport amid the pervasive threat of climate change.
She intimated that: “Importantly, there is nobody questioning,should we do Sustainability in Sport?” “That isn’t even being asked any more, now the questions are only: “How shall we do it? How can we do it faster? How can we do it better?” Indeed Sustainability(Sustainable Development) has a heartening acceptance which cuts across all sectors of human endeavour including sports in recent times.
According to Dr. Nicoletta: “Having a sustainability strategy is not an optional thing, it’s just a question of how.” “Everybody has the intention of making the world better through sport, and sustainability is a bigger part of that.” On the threat of climate change Dr. Nicoletta said: “I think the reason why we are facing problems like climate change might be that we have not made solving that problem appealing, I think sports can make these problems more appealing, more interesting,more fun, more competitive.”
Furthermore she said: “Sport can be a great lens to communicate with a huge number of people and can magnify the positive action that is being done around sustainability.”
Sustainability in Sport (green sports/sports greening) embraces eco-friendly measures: renewable energy, cutting emissions, healthy food,recycling, water efficiency, species preservation, safer chemicals and good environmental practices tocombat climate change in the bid toimprove the health of our planet.
Sustainability or Sustainable Development: isdevelopment that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
By Dela Ahiawor, African Eye Report
Follow me on twitter @DAhiawor
—Sustainability Active Newsletter—
